Ram Vilas Paswan yesterday assumed charge of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.

Briefing the media in the capital, Mr. Paswan said containing food prices, streamlining the working of the FCI– Food Corporation of India, and making the Public Distribution System more effective will be his priority.

He said that the procurement system will be strengthened to ensure that its benefits reach the farmers.

Minimum Support Price (MSP) and monitoring the prices of essential commodities are other important issues before the Government.